Mister Faded Glory | misterfadedglory.com

It may be light here for a few days — even though baseball begins LIVE on Monday (And, true to absolute fucking form, I’m excited for the Cubs season even though I have no rational reason to be), it’s going to be a bit before I can wrap my head around each team’s chances, let alone the Cubs. I hate myself and want to die.

In fact, it may be sporadic here for a couple of days (I know, WATFO?!) as I finish my whirlwind tour of Kansas for my real job. In addition — remember, Saturday begins Wall-to-Wall-In-Law-April, and I can’t promise anything over the weekend. So, you know, Go Patriots. (Wow, talk about sentences I never thought I’d type…)

Anyway, we’re up to:

No. 21 – Pearl Jam, Why Go.

In 1991 when Pearl Jam‘s Ten unceremoniously (almost by default) became the second CD I owned, I was a little unsure of the overall disc. I knew I liked Alive, Even Flow was OK, and Jeremy was on MTV every other minute. However, I put the disc in, and played, start to finish, giving it a chance.

First, the opening beats of Master/Slave … not too shabby, a little mysterious. John likes.

Then, Once. Wow. This band rips. Who are these guys? Still, anyone can have a killer opening track.

Next, Even Flow. I sure like this song better when Steve Isaacs and Kennedy aren’t fellating it. Rock!

And then, of course, Alive. (Sings in nonsensical words at top of lungs to emulate track.)

Is this CD really this good? Then, the drumbeats of track 4 started, followed by the guttural, pulsating bass, and the song explodes, into a furious Ed wailing the story of a runaway, capped by the frantic chorus — “Why go home?”

It’s an impassioned, ragged, simple, and coherent burst of energy and anger — pure grunge. To me, it signaled that I had a new favorite band. The song isn’t a staple of Pearl Jam‘s catalog any more, but it still emerges, and each live play is a little different — but always with the same powerful urgency.

You see? There is good in college basketball!

It’s very easy as a spectator to fall in love with an underdog, a Cinderella, or the little guy. Is George Mason University — the largest public school in Virginia — any of these things? Well, yes and no. Certainly they play in a small conference, with small players.

However, it’s impossible to watch them and not think that they can cut down the nets in Indianapolis next week. They have two lethal shooting guards, an athletic swingman, and two post players who are more fundamentally sound than most in America — even as they give away six inches. Seriously, Jai Lewis made supposed defensive stalwarts Josh “Ugly” Boone and Hilton “Neck” Armstrong look foolish. Had they ever seen a drop-step before?

And just when you think UConn is going to skate through another regional en route to the Final Four, all their mistakes catch up with them. They play raggedly, disinterested, and expect to turn it on only late. Their point guard is lauded for his skills — but he gives quite a bit away on the defensive end. Not to mention, he’s a thief.

Well, it’s a shame. Too bad the committee railroaded Number-One seed UConn into a game with GMU in the DC area. Can’t believe they didn’t foresee an eleven-seed in a regional final. But don’t worry, it won’t happen again – Jim Calhoun will be whining about it for months.

Kudos to George Mason — cinderella or whatever, they may just be the best team in the country. And today, they did us a favor by dispatching the most unlikable.

Update, 6:24 p.m.

However, if George Mason is cementing what’s right about college basketball — then the inept play of Villanova and Memphis in regional finals may have set the sport back a couple hundred years. Both regionals, which they lost, respectively, to talent-laden physical UCLA and Florida teams, featured no game plans by either coach, no situational recognition by any players, and a lot of outstanding senior careers — Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Rodney Carney — completely down the drain.

Villanova was an easy team to like. Memphis, not so much. Still, maybe George Mason can put an end to all this, and cap off the season by defeating another unlikable team — the ridiculous Florida Gators (Seriously, that jackass ugly kid will NOT STOP SCREAMING. SHUT UP.), the least camera-friendly team of all time. Ouch, are they difficult to watch.

Still, how ridiculous is it for CBS, if LSU and Florida meet up in the finals? All year the Tiffany network has had rights to SEC games — yet I can’t remember seeing any team besides freaking Kentucky facing off against an inept Arkansas squad or a worthless Vandy team. We didn’t see Tennessee, either. Gack.

And, in a bittersweet end to my tournament commentary, I realize I did not, in four separate pools, pick a single Final Four team correctly. Not once. Ouch. And this cements it — next year, no pools is a very real option for me. Seriously. Honest. Yes, I said it.

Now, when does baseball start?

(No, I’m not just bitching about UConn during this post.)

Okay, I’m back from afar, or, failing that, a work-related trip throughout western red-state America.

And rather than bore you with a tired tale from my trip to the Kansas hinterlands (A store clerk freaked out at my American Express Blue card; the clear construction clearly befuddled her), I’m back on the sports ‘wagon.

Sure, the Hawkeyes’ loss was depressing, and the Cubs’ impending season isn’t exactly instilling me with pride, hope, or excitement – but the NCAA tournament remains the best sports game in town, any year, every year. This year is no exception — after last year’s snoozefest, the parity all season in college basketball is giving rise to some fantastic tight tourney games. And, as per se, I’ve got some random points:

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Man, I thought Iowa lost badly.

Then West Va. (A last-second three from Texas?)

Then Gonzaga. (Ouch. What was Batista doing in the backcourt?)

Then Boston College. (Yeesh. How did he get that open coming down the lane?)

But nothing compared to the smack job Washington got against UConn tonight. A missed goaltending call seals it. Ouch. I keep hoping that this worthless UConn team will lose, particularly because the laptop thief, the pouter, the assassin, ugly, and 10th-year senior Denham Brown seem to think they can turn it on at will. Sometime it’s not going to be there. Sometime they won’t get a gift foul from an albino center.

Pure evil. If this mess of a team wins another fucking title with Syracuse as the last team to beat them, I may give up on college basketball. I hate Duke, but at least they play hard for 40 minutes. Can’t say the same for the Fuskies.

Yeah, I said I was done with sports. I lied. I’m bitter. I’m cynical. I hate UConn. More to come.

So it’s spring today, supposedly, yet after a balmy winter, my ridiculous shell of a state is bathed in a blizzard/rainstorm. In the immortal words of William Shatner, sometimes irony, well, it can be pretty ironic.

22. Green River, Swallow My Pride.

I’ll admit even for the most hardened grunge fan that Green River’s stuff takes a few listens to get used to. It’s a little raw, hardly polished, yet strangely catchy after you hear it a few times or so. The only Green River song I repeatedly come back to, however, is Swallow My Pride, and admittedly, Pearl Jam’s early propensity to cover it plays a part in my reasoning. However, its scratchy, heavy guitars coupled mysterious, looping vocals and a double-entendre lyrical message is early grunge epitomized.

Mister Faded Glory is taking a break from sports. If you were waiting for a baseball preview or missives about the Cubs, please don’t continue to hold your breath. However, in full countdown spirit, MFG reveals the top-10 worst losses of his lifetime.

1. The Alex Gonzalez/Steve Bartman game. (Cubs – 2003)
2. Keith Smart’s jumper. (Syracuse – 1987).
3. The Richmond game. (Syracuse – 1991).
4. Nick Harper cuts wrong way. (Colts – 2006).
5. Today’s fucking Northwestern State-Iowa game. (Iowa – 2006.)
6. Leon Durham. (Cubs – 1984.)
7. Blowing double-digit lead to No. 1 Michigan State in regional semifinals. (Syracuse – 2000.)
8. UNLV rallies from 20 down in Elite Eight. (Iowa – 1987.)
9. Any playoff game vs. New England. (Colts – 2003-4).
10. Lawrence Moten’s timeout. (Syracuse – 1995).

Honorable mention: Cubs Game 7 vs. Florida, Cubs 2004 series vs. Reds, Syracuse vs. Minnesota (1990), oh, and there’s more.

Anyway, it’s St. Patrick’s Day, I’m Irish, and the NCAA Tournament is over. I’ll talk about grunge music on Monday, after I crawl out from under a bottle.

Didn’t I say they’d be drained?

Far be it from me to criticize. Gerry McNamara‘s game featured lots of mistakes by the Orange, and an altogether foreseeable finish. An overseeded ‘Cuse squad and an underseeded A&M team, combined with the emotional letdown for the Orange. The problems that plagued the Orange all year caught up with them again tonight.

But give A&M credit, however. They play a bizarre style that’s deliberate enough to lull you to sleep, while being unexpectedly tenacious on the defensive end. It’s very effective, and is a great quality for them to have in this tourney. I’d expect them to give the LSU Paper Tigers trouble.

However, I can’t look upon this year and not consider it a success. That Big East title was really something — much more than we expected, and the greatest feat the Orange could hope for this year. I’ll take it. We’ll miss you, Gerry.

On Iowa.

Okay, so I’ve given up. No, not on you caring how the hell I fill out my bracket. I’m practically pulling my hair out (especially in that godforsaken Duke region) But I’ve got one final methodology.

Simple — who I like better! Simply who I may prefer to win!

This doesn’t involve anything outside the realm of reasonableness (You won’t see me picking Monmouth over ‘Nova, for example), but it’s just as tried-and-true of a method as me wondering whether or not Iowa can matchup with the Mountaineers or Salukis. (What, you expect analysis?)

This is admittedly a little similar to the Joe Posnanski “two-minute bracket” method (although much less funny), which you can find on The Star’s archives. I always felt that method gave Joe a little extra piece of mind. Maybe my “who I like better” idea will relax me as well. (Seriously, ‘Cuse plays A&M late tomorrow night and I’m already jittery.)

Anyway, you, the reader, are going to be witness to whether or not this works, after reading below. I’ve registered on SI.com, so if I win a million bucks, additionally, I’ll redesign the web site. (Ha!) Anyway, here goes.

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I’m trying to do a bracket a day. I just filled out my second, and crumpled it up, because I had a Final Four of Iowa, Memphis, North Carolina, and Boston College. No way all those flawed teams are going, and no way I can consciously admit two ACC teams. I think this is the year I’m sticking to my guns, with a few variations. (Though I bang my head against the keyboard because Duke is in the same upper region as LSU and Syracuse, who I know can’t beat ‘em. And the lower region has two teams that can beat Duke, and they’ll likely play in the second round. Someone needs to tell me if Pops Mensah-Bonsu is healthy.) Anyway, this year’s a cluster before it even starts. But we knew this.

ANYWAY – I’m behind on the grunge countdown, so I give you.

24. Temple of the Dog, Reach Down.

So sue me, I’m a sucker for big, fueling, spiraling epic songs. The guitar riffs on this monster 10-minute track in memoriam of the great Andrew Wood always suck me in, and leave me paralyzed for the entirety. The same thing happens on Mad Season‘s November Hotel, though. When it comes to early 1990s rock, I’m all-too-eager to drink it up. Anyway, Reach Down is perfect grunge — and it’s pretty much included here because I know you thought I was gonna go for Wooden Jesus. Whatever, maybe it’s a tie. Like you care.

23. Screaming Trees, Sworn and Broken.

I admit I’m not as well-versed on the Trees as I should be. I’ve listened to a lot of their stuff, seen them live once, and they’re cool. This is my favorite song, even though it’s a melodious ballad. Still, everything they do shows off Mark Lanegan‘s killer voice. Anyway, I like this song. Please don’t call me a wimp.

No one jumps out from this year’s NCAA field. Not one team. Personally, I’m high on Villanova, but not even so high that I’m totally comfortable they’ll make the Sweet 16.

I typically do a first-shot projection when the brackets are revealed, and usually this is my most successful pick sheet. It’s done, but I’m not too thrilled with it. The matchups and teams involved everywhere confound me — and as I see Seth Davis and Jay Bilas echo my picks, I’m even more nervous. (Oh, by the way, if your picks match Andy Katz’, change them. He’s the kiss of death. Great reporter. Not a great prognosticator. Is he picking Stanford this year?)

I’ll second guess myself throughout the week until Thursday’s tip, but for now, consider:

– It’s an even year, so one No. 1 seed always goes down in the second round.
– Each year, one team always gets insanely hot in its conference tournament, wins it, and flames out early. (Sadly, this could again be Syracuse.)

Other than that, remember these factors:
1) Good guard play
2) Good free throw shooting
3) Smart teams
4) but talent wins overall, almost always. Don’t get too cute.

That’s how I roll (snicker). But here’s my bracket thoughts, right off the top. No. 1 seeds are in parentheses, I haven’t picked my final four yet.

ATLANTA (Duke)

Most loaded region.
Iowa should have been a 2-seed.
Even GW is shoehorned in here, whether they are a paper tiger or not. (Hopefully not.) I’ve said all along a quick perimeter team can get Duke. That said, none of these teams are exactly the right foil.
I do, however, like the draw for Iowa.

Watch this game: The 6-11 tilt between West Va. and Southern Illinois is a monster – each of those teams could make some noise.

Upset special: I would say A&M over ‘Cuse, but they are a Big 12 team, and likely haven’t seen a zone, ever. As 2003 proved, it ain’t exactly a conference for Mensa candidates. Syracuse will be drained, however.

S16: No huge surprises yet. Duke, LSU, Iowa, Texas (Geez, guess who’s playing at home AGAIN. The ‘Horns.)

OAKLAND (Memphis)

Memphis is tougher than people think.
I thought Kansas (along with Iowa) was grossly underseeded. KU deserved a three.
If the talking heads are so down on mid-majors, why is it they never call out freakin’ Gonzaga, which is still living on a 1999 run, and flames out every single year?

Watch this game: Kansas v. Bradley should be frenetic, and the score might reach the 100s.
Lot of questions surround Marquette and Alabama, I could see both in the 16, so the first round should be hard-fought. UCLA, however, is also playing at home. (For what that’s worth.)

Upset special: Xavier over Gonzaga. Do you have the guts to pick it?

S16: Arkansas, Kansas, Indiana, UCLA. (I think Memphis is the one No. 1 to fall early — if only because of the grudge match possibilities vs. Arkansas. I do like Memphis. This is a tough bracket, and I like Kansas way more, anyway.)

WASHINGTON DC. (UConn)

As expected, the talking heads are high on UConn. True, they have the most talent. But they also have no real go-to guy, and the whole team is completely enigmatic, regardless of Rashad Anderson‘s uncanny ability to stroke threes. The bracket looks good for them, however.
The whole bottom of this bracket could blow out. Actually, who knows which UConn, Tennessee, UNC, Illinois, Washington, or Michigan State teams we’re getting? These clubs are all fairly schizo and, actually, could lose to anyone.

Watch this game: George Mason vs. Michigan State. State doesn’t get upset too often, but watch Mason make a run while Billy Packer cries.

Upset special: Utah State over Washington. The Huskies are completely unreliable.

S16: UConn, Illinois, North Carolina, Wichita State.

MINNEAPOLIS (Villanova)

If the opening rounds weren’t in Dayton, I’d be totally confident in Georgetown rambling over Ohio State. I like the Hoyas a lot.
Nova‘s second round is going to be brutal, and even though question marks surround them, this team is solid up-and-down. Everyone thinks all they do is launch threes, but these guards are like nothing any of these teams have faced They guard, board, and shoot. All are clutch.
Boston College is always an upset candidate. Regardless of talent, they’re never a particularly smart team. They never shoot free throws well. And commentators now looove them (RED FLAG!) because they stayed close with Duke (who actually might suck) today.
Oh, look, the obligatory overseeding of Florida before they fall in the second round, again.

Watch this game: Pacific will scare BC, and South Alabama will scare Florida.

Upset special: Wisconsin-Milwaukee surprises a completely fraudulent Oklahoma team.

S16: Nova, Nevada, Florida (I hate to do it), Georgetown.